Social - August 2002

Pageant title teaches reigning Apple Queen valuable life lessons

By DIANE TURBYFILL, LTN Staff Writer

August 2, 2002 - The 2002 Apple Queen title has taught Jaime Goodson many life lessons.

Lessons she will take with her even after she crowns the new queen Saturday, Aug. 10 at the Citizens Center.

The reigning queen and daughter of Allen and Jeannie Goodson of Lincolnton, has spent the last month working with this year’s contestants.

“The girls are working on their modeling, and we’re all working on our opening dance,” says Goodson.

A sophomore at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she has made good use of her summer off. Goodson volunteered at Camp Celebrate in Chapel Hill, a camp for burned children.

Her decision to volunteer at the camp was influenced by a local firefighter.

“Tony Jenkins here in Lincolnton got me involved.”

Goodson says she thought the experience would be heart-breaking and emotional, but was pleasantly surprised.

“They taught me about life — courage and perseverance.”

The 19-year-old Apple Queen says participating in last year’s pageant also better prepared her for the future.

“Even if you don’t win, you get a lot out of it,” she says. “It’s about more than beauty, it’s also about how you carry yourself.”

Goodson says she now feel better prepared for a career in broadcast journalism and plans to enter more pageants in the future.

“I’m going to continue doing pageants because it prepares you for interviews after college.”

In fact, she will enter the Miss Mount Holly Pageant in November. She will sing for the talent part of the competition, and plans to sing a patriotic song during the upcoming Apple Queen Scholarship Pageant.

Goodson feels competing in pageants provide valuable experiences.

“It’s fun. It’s exciting, and you meet a lot of new girls.”

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The Apple Queen Scholarship Pageant will be Saturday, Aug. 10 at 7 p.m. at the Citizens Center. Tickets will be sold at the door.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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